#Brain processor formation

[xenonreality]

Image credit goes to Credit: JAMA Neurology (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2363

So, survivorship bias is involved too, but really it's more than that. There are ways to actually find patterns in our genes for these things. Same with the nurture aspect influence over time.

Which, as a species, we need to do. Just as a way, at the very least, to help our own individual selves, let alone prevent incredibly high risk individuals from being born.

2 prong approaches & a need for incredible oversight to make certain it doesn't go towards what Hitler would do.

How Tumblr Got Basics Of Math & Science Incorrect (factually in all ways)

So, survivorship bias is involved too, but really it's more than that. There are ways to actually find patterns in our genes for these things. Same with the nurture aspect influence over time.

Which, as a species, we need to do. Just as a way, at the very least, to help our own individual selves, let alone prevent incredibly high risk individuals from being born.

2 prong approaches & a need for incredible oversight to make certain it doesn't go towards what Hitler would do.

[toskarin]

I’m sorry, you write long form fiction in LATEX??? As someone who used it for every homework assignment during my undergrad, what the fuck

this is going to sound a little insane, and I acknowledge that, but it's not actually for any specific features of LaTeX (although it's nice to be able to make pdfs if I need to)

the actual reason that I like using LaTeX for writing is because of how many editors let you set up a nice little realtime preview you can't touch directly

it's very satisfying to watch something "finished" formatting itself in real time, distinct from the "unfinished" thing you're running your claws over. to my brain, it kinda hits the same notes as those "stimuwrite" processors (which are way too noisy and visually distracting for me to use)

[girlactionfigure]

1 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - The Development of Multiscale Models for Complex Chemical Systems

2 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Quasiperiodic Crystals

3 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Decoding the Structure and The Function of The Ribosome

4 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences - Repeated Games

5 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Ubiquitin, Deciding the Fate of Defective Proteins in Living Cells

6 Nobel Prize in Economics - Human Judgment and Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

7 Fields Medal Award in Mathematics

8 Turing Award - Machine Reasoning Under Uncertainty

9 Turing Award - Nondeterministic Decision-Making

10 Turing Award - The Development of Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proofs

11 Turing Award - Developing New Tools for Systems Verification

12 Vine Seeds Discovered from The Byzantine Period

13 The World’s Most Ancient Hebrew Inscription

14 Ancient Golden Treasure Found at Foot of Temple Mount

15 Sniffphone - Mobile Disease Diagnostics

16 Discovering the Gene Responsible for Fingerprints Formation

17 Pillcam - For Diagnosing and Monitoring Diseases in The Digestive System

18 Technological Application of The Molecular Recognition and Assembly Mechanisms Behind Degenerative Disorders

19 Exelon – A Drug for The Treatment of Dementia

20 Azilect - Drug for Parkinson’s Disease

21 Nano Ghosts - A “Magic Bullet” For Fighting Cancer

22 Doxil (Caelyx) For Cancer Treatment

23 The Genetics of Hearing

24 Copaxone - Drug for The Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

25 Preserving the Dead Sea Scrolls

26 Developing the Biotechnologies of Valuable Products from Red Marine Microalgae

27 A New Method for Recruiting Immune Cells to Fight Cancer

28 Study of Bacterial Mechanisms for Coping with Temperature Change

29 Steering with The Bats 30 Transmitting Voice Conversations Via the Internet

31 Rewalk – An Exoskeleton That Enables Paraplegics to Walk Again

32 Intelligent Computer Systems

33 Muon Detectors in The World's Largest Scientific Experiment

34 Renaissance Robot for Spine and Brain Surgery

35 Mobileye Accident Prevention System

36 Firewall for Computer Network Security

37 Waze – Outsmarting Traffic, Together

38 Diskonkey - USB Flash Drive

39 Venμs Environmental Research Satellite

40 Iron Dome – Rocket and Mortar Air Defense System

41 Gridon - Preventing Power Outages in High Voltage Grids

42 The First Israeli Nanosatellite

43 Intel's New Generation Processors

44 Electroink - The World’s First Electronic Ink for Commercial Printing

45 Development of A Commercial Membrane for Desalination

46 Developing Modern Wine from Vines of The Bible

47 New Varieties of Seedless Grapes

48 Long-Keeping Regular and Cherry Tomatoes

49 Adapting Citrus Cultivation to Desert Conditions

50 Rhopalaea Idoneta - A New Ascidian Species from The Gulf of Eilat

51 Life in The Dead Sea - Various Fungi Discovered in The Brine

52 Drip Technology - The Irrigation Method That Revolutionized Agriculture

53 Repair of Heart Tissues from Algae

54 Proof of The Existence of Imaginary Particles, Which Could Be Used in Quantum Computers

55 Flying in Peace with The Birds

56 Self-Organization of Bacteria Colonies Sheds Light on The Behaviour of Cancer Cells

57 The First Israeli Astronaut, Colonel Ilan Ramon

58 Dr. Chaim Weizmann - Scientist and Statesman, The First President of Israel, One of The Founders of The Modern Field of Biotechnology

59 Aaron Aaronsohn Botanist, Agronomist, Entrepreneur, Zionist Leader, and Head of The Nili Underground Organization

60 Albert Einstein - Founding Father of The Theory of Relativity, Co-Founder of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem

61 Maimonides - Doctor and Philosopher

Source

@TheMossadIL

[kaeso4ka]

Optimus gives an order and something important is taken from you

Pairing: yandere! Optimus Prime x reader

Cybertronians called it mnemosurgery. The Shadowplay, or whatever… You'd call it Hell on Earth.

When you're turned inside out alive, when you feel like someone is poking around in your brain with a businesslike air and removing facet after facet of your personality, it's scary.

You remembered that when Optimus tried to get to voluntarily lie down on the platform, you immediately picked up on something amiss. Prime was nervous. He'd been nervous too much lately, though he was obviously supposed to be happy about your cyber-formation. But rejoicing wasn't working, because you hated so much and so much that that hate wouldn't leave your EM field for a minute.

So Optimus went to extreme measures.

You lashed out. Even managed to bend Prime's antenna while he laid you down on the platform and Ratchet fixed you. The mnemosurgeon stood aside in a grim shadow, in no hurry to help.

“Son of a bitch!” a voice boomed. “What, you think you're going to attribute love to me and it'll all be over? Take away my memories...?”

“No, my Spark,” Prime stroked your helmet, reassuring you, ”I will not take away your memories. I will only...”

“My Prime, may I proceed with the surgery?” the mnemosurgeon stepped forward. “ Talking to the person being operated on is not a good idea. The fresher the emotions, the harder it is to work with them in the process.”

Optimus nods, stepping back.

You scream as the mnemosurgical needles enter your processor. It doesn't hurt. It's just bad - and no other way.

And then you feel something very, very important begin to be taken away from you. Like water through her fingers, her free will goes away. Nothing else: just that.

...and you soon forget about it.

***

When the operation is over and the latches open, you almost jump off the platform. All systems are working properly, and everything is normal, normal, normal - and only something is missing.

Something is wrong.

You still hate Prime, still remember what just happened, but...

“What did you take away?” you want to crawl into a corner and freeze there forever. The world around her reeks of danger. Something's wrong, but you don't know what.

But Prime doesn't answer. He reaches out to embrace you. And you wish you could find the strength to fight, but you don't even remember to fight.

You still feel scared and bad around Optimus, but there's nothing you can do about it.

Humility comes in.

[brandwhorestarscream]

Universe crossover Warlord-advice anon here! Fsfshda the dark energon reference has me rolling 😂 and yes for Starscream's shenanigans! Hope you don't mind a follow-up:

TF One Megs asking his fellow incarnates whether seduction is a worthwhile battle protocol - and using it on the enemy. TFP and TFA give their advice & helpful demonstration which boosts TF One Megs confidence.

Some cycles later, his subordinates are having processor aches trying to understand how this mech is now way more smouldering than before. The smouldering is working and a number of faceplates (plus panels) are more flushed than before.

Soundwave acknowledges: Sudden change of behaviour ... unexpected but welcome for increasing morale. Protocol Engage: Record & Archive. Goal: Build Collection - Secret.

Starscream is not happy with this change of mood. He refuses to admit their leader's exchanges are worming into his processor. He is reluctant to admit that the jawline & formation of Meg's faceplates has him entranced. He acknowledges that previous display of power is an attractive quality, not many can best yours truly. He relishes hearing the velvety roll of his designation from those smooth grey derma...he really should stop thinking with his interface array right now. He discreetly asks Soundwave for a selection of recordings...for research purposes.

Shockwave, ever the impulsive mech who runs his vocal unit before his brain module, accepts this change of pace easily. He's the one to reel in some of the more loose-headed cons (thankfully Starscream is capable of appearing in control unlike the others). Those cons keep telling Shockwave he is missing out on the berthside talk that exits their leader's derma. Shockwave requests Soundwave's database of recordings to watch a few to verify that statement: frame status goes from 'normal' to 'overheating' plus his EM field is radiating crystal clear desire.

Megs himself is pleased with the advice his brief companions gave him! To think that his cons seem more willing to pay attention to him now! He never would have gotten this as a cogless miner. With the cog of Megatronus he carries, he feels a rush of victory at his successful cycles spent learning to be a better warlord. He's got his work cut out at refining that silver glossa, he hopes it can be powerful enough to sway even future allies...

-anon runs away, have a good day-

Canon. All of it. Canon

[merlinfromberlin]

A Little Left of Right

"Apparently our cross-dimensional counterparts belong to the more faint of heart," said Optimus. His words sent a cold shiver down Bumblebee's backstrut. "Weren't they keeping pets, too?" asked Arcee, the cold sneer that accompanied those words basically audible. "Pathetic. I don't know what anyone could ever find in these squishies. It's a shame we're stuck here with them." ::What?:: bleeped Bee.

Or: When Bumblebee wakes up after a crash in the desert, something is not quite right with Team Prime.

Warnings: Canon Typical Violence, experimental style, Shattered Glass, Ableist Comments, implied cross-dimensional stalking, attempted botnapping Chronology: Somewhere smack dab in the middle of TFP Season 2 - after Operation: Bumblebee but before Smokescreen shows up. Chapter: 1/? Wordcount: 1823 words

Apparently merely the first chapter of a longer story (against my consent).

Written for @angstober - Day 15: False Hope. Prompt list can be found here: X

I'm aware that this does not exactly fit the 'false hope' mold. It's more a 'false sense of security'. But well. This idea stole my brain and by the time I got it back I didn't want to go back and change it anymore.

Story below the cut or on AO3 (I would recommend the AO3 version because of the formatting - looks better over there).

[Initiating system reboot.]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Rebooting sequence successful.]

[Running automated system diagnosis.]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Energy level: 53%.] 

[Fuellevel: 49%. ]

[Malevolent foreign coding (Aut#Rt-4c7.SG) detected.]

[Isolating code.]

[…]

[…]

[…]

[Malevolent foreign coding (Aut#Rt-4c7.SG) isolated.]

[Starting analysis.]

[…]

[…]

[…]

[Analysis complete.]

[Malevolent foreign coding (Aut#Rt-4c7.SG) identified as Forced Shutdown Protocol (Aut#Rt-4c7.SG).]

[Complete system scan recommended.]

[Scan now?]

[Yes (X) No ( )]

[Initiating scan.]

The first thing Bumblebee became aware of as he woke was coarse grainy desert sand grinding into his joints and burrowing itself below his plating. The second thing was a processor ache almost as bad as that one time he had fallen from Optimus’ shoulders as a sparkling. The third thing was his HUD as well as several other core processes rebooting.

His internal navigation system positioned him somewhere between Jasper and Autobot Outpost Omega One which was good because it was where he remembered being before… before he had been knocked out by whatever. At least Bee had not been botnapped. That would have been inconvenient. Being botnapped sucked. And he really did not want to miss this week’s episode of Avatar.

Bee’s comm link pinged four Autobot signals around him. As he could detect no other lifeforms—apart from an armadillo—nearby, Bumblebee decided to take that as a good sign. He was probably relatively safe right now. Still, he was cautious as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. Safety was never permanent. It was one of the first lessons growing up in a Civil War older than yourself taught you.

When he finally onlined his optics, a new surge of pain shredded his processor. His whole visual feed was grainy and drained of colour except for a violently pink tinge in the upper right corner that would have fried his optical sensory circuits if they had not already been glitching. Shaking his helm did not help with the problem in the slightest. Instead, the movement just aggravated the pain and made him nauseous. With a small groan, he pressed his thumbs just below his optical ridges. The sensation of cool digits against heated metal helped momentarily, allowing him to tear his focus back to the present.

Through the static Bumblebee could, albeit barely, make out the shapes of Optimus Prime and Ratchet standing in front of him. The medic was kneeling in front of Bee, already scanning his charge for damages. To his sides he could make out two more vague frames—one slithe, the other bulky. That had to be Arcee and Bulkhead.

::What happened?:: Bee beeped after a moment of tense silence while he slowly, so as not to aggravate his processor further, turned his helm up towards Optimus for answers.

“Our… scanners detected your distress signal,” replied the Prime after a short pause. His tone of voice sent a chill down Bumblebee’s backplating and caused his doorwings to shoot upwards in rigid tension. Optimus sounded uncharacteristically angry and... almost arrogant. His cool intonation and aggressive glyphs grated on Bee's processor. Maybe there was something wrong with his audials, too? Because that was just not what the Autobot leader was supposed to sound like. “So we came to investigate.”

::I don’t…:: Bee started slowly, cycling his optics sluggishly as he scoured his memory files for hints as to what had happened. ::I was driving back to base… I had just brought Raf home. Then… there was this… I don’t know… light, I guess… a flash of blue light. And…. Then I don’t know. I woke up here.::

[Error in Optical Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) detected.]

Who woulda thunk.

[Restart of Optical Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) necessary.]

[Restart now?]

[Yes (X) No ( )]

[Initiating restart of Optical Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127).]

“Mh… There is some minor damages to his sensory network,” reported Ratchet just as Bumblebee’s visual feed offlined itself. He heard someone heavy, probably Bulkhead, shift their weight from one pede to the other on his left side.

::Yeah:: Bee piped up. ::My self-repair is already-::

“Du-uh-uh. Let the grown-ups talk. It's impolite to invade conversations you know nothing about.” He was cut off almost immediately by the medic which… ouch. His carer tended to be grouchy but that… that had just been mean. Unnecessarily so in Bee’s opinion. Ratchet had never before spoken to him like that. Tentatively, he attempted to reach out with his EM field but was met with nothing but distant static. Dejected, he pulled it back to his frame, curling its tendrils tightly around his protoform for comfort. “Otherwise, there seems to be nothing amiss with him. Well, except for the obvious.” Which… again. Ouch. What had gotten into Ratchet?

::Maybe it was M.E.C.H.? I mean… it would fit their method is all:: offered Bee after a moment of terse silence.

A silent hum from Optimus was the only answer he received. Until an impossibly familiar voice spoke up.

“I thought we had squashed those pests decicycles ago,” said Cliffjumper of all mech which… apparently Bee’s audials really were glitching because there was no way that Cliffjumper could be here. Cliffjumper had died months ago in a Decepticon energon mine. And Bee was absolutely certain of that because he kept reliving that dreadful cycle in all its gory details in his dreams. He could not be hearing Cliffjumper because Cliffjumper was dead. Offline. One with the Allspark. Gone.

"Apparently our cross-dimensional counterparts belong to the more faint of heart," answered Optimus. Again, his words sent a cold shiver down Bumblebee's backstrut.

"Weren't they keeping pets, too?" asked Arcee, the cold sneer that accompanied those words basically audible. "Pathetic. I don't know what anyone could ever find in these squishies. It's a shame we're stuck here with them."

::What?:: bleeped Bee. His servos were shaking slightly. His vents came in too fast. Something was wrong. Something was seriously wrong here. None of this made any sense. Please, Primus, let it be a glitch with his audials or something like that. At least he would know how to fix that—or Ratchet would.

[Query: Initiating scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127).]

[Scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) has not detected any malfunction.]

[Query: Initiating scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127).]

[Scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) has not detected any malfunction.]

[Query: Initiating scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127).]

[Scan of Auditory Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) has not detected any malfunction.]

[Restart of Optical Sensory Relay Network (Bas#B-127) successful.]

[Rebooting now.]

As his visual feed came back online, Bumblebee flinched heavily. The jerking motion send a shard of hot pain through his processor that buried itself deep behind his right optic. He did not care as he shuffled backwards in a panic. After only a few metres his doorwings collided with a rock behind him, stopping him in his tracks and trapping him in place.

[Initiating Energy Preservation Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Energon Preservation Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Emergency Pain Suppressant Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Stealth Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Scouting Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Infiltration Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

[Initiating Combat Protocols (SpOp_Sc#B-127).]

As his processor ache slowly faded to the background, the scout's gaze kept shifting wildly from one bot to the next, skipping from white plating accented with teal on Ratchet's frame to an Arcee whose dark blue main colour had been exchanged for pitch black. For a moment, Bee's focus lingered on the dark blue Cliffjumper to his left. This mech had a lot more horns and studs than his own Cliff had ever possessed. All of their optics glowed red. Then his attention narrowed down on the tallest bot of the group surrounding him. The one who shared Optimus’ frame but neither his colour scheme nor his gentle warmth. Instead, the semitruck was mostly violet, his optics glowing in a sickening purple the scout had come to associate with Megatron. 

::You’re not Optimus:: Bumblebee finally said, his vocalisation trembling slightly. The fake Optimus just laughed. The sound of it was grating to the youngling's audials and he pulled his pedes even closer to himself. His doorwings flared up wide behind him. They were flapping furiosuly, lower halfs scraping against the rock behind him with every stroke.

The fake Ratchet scoffed: "He is a truer Prime than your pathetic pacifist archivist ever could be, little sparkbyte."

Bee shivered at the term of endearment. It sounded wrong when it came from this mech—cold, dangerous and mocking when it should have been one of the, if not the safest word in the entire universe. How did this sorry excuse for Ratchet even know it? Ratchet—his Ratchet, his medic and his carer and the bot who had raised him with Optimus and Ironhide and Elita-1 ever since the destruction of Bumblebee's hometown—made sure never to use it publicly. He was not even sure if their human allies, if Raf, knew the term.

::What did you do to Ratchet?:: Bee warbled quietly, cycling his optics to focus on the medic's faceplates now. He was shaking silently, although he was not sure if from fear or fury.

"Wouldn't you like to know, little one?" The grin on the mean doctor's faceplate split even wider. That was Optimus' nickname for him. It took Bee way too much effort not to cower.

"Ratchet," interrupted the fake Prime suddenly, his voice cold and coloured heavily with disgust. "As amusing as this conversation may be to you, you can continue it back at headquarters. There, you will have our little guest all to yourself without having to worry about Decepticons interrupting you."

::I'm not going anywhere with you!:: protested Bumblebee vehemently, his cables tensing underneath his armour as he made himself even smaller, preparing to strike in surprise. He was sure as the pit not going to go with these creeps. He would rather face Megatron.

"That's not for you to decide, bug." It was the fake Cliffjumper that reacted first to Bee's challenge.

[Initiating transformation sequence (COM-SpOp#B-127;α).]

[Rerouting energon to Combat Line (COM-SpOp#B-127;α;1).]

[Rerouting energon to Combat Line (COM-SpOp#B-127;α;2).]

The blue mech stepped forward to try and pull the smaller bot to his pedes. He stumbled backwards as Bee leapt up from his curled up position on the ground, blasters drawn. The scout used the older mech's surprise to slip past besides him, gaining some space while using the fake Cliff as a shield from the rest of his perpretators. He stayed there for barely a nanocycle before aiming a few weak shots at the older mech's chassis and diving over the top of the rock he had just been leaning against. Midair, he fired a few more shots in the general direction of these weird, dark Autobot mimicries before folding down into his alt mode to speed away as fast as his wheels could carry him.

[amelias-calamity-quintet]

Feeling like I should write these down cause eventually I'm gonna post a screenshot of my Word docs and y'all are gonna see all my weird formatting, so let's get ahead of it! Writing tips with me! I hope some of these help folks, this is just what helps me. I've produced like 500k words of relatively edited work in two months using these, so. I shouldn't horde them in case they can help more folks. There aren't a lot, but I hope they help.

Reformat your doc to the page size you'd want to print the work in if you're working in a word processor that can do that. Even if it's fanfic! Figure out the size you'd want to hold the book at and work from there. I promise you, it feels way more motivating to get work done on a 6x9 doc than 8.5x11.

Another format tip, reformat your work in a font and font size that makes it easy to read. I write in Comic Sans myself! Writing already takes up a huge amount of brain power thinking of words, don't add to the challenge by adding hoops to rereading them for edits. You can always reformat after.

Get some kind of notes app. World Anvil, Campfire, I recommend Obsidian, which is free! World bible docs are great, but nested wikis are way easier to sift through.

If you prefer writing linearly, like I do, make sure you have a doc to write down other scenes when you think of them. This has saved me so much heartbreak, even just having an outline of ideas and quote ideas.

If you're going to write a series, pick how many books are in it by overcount, not undercount. It is typically more noticeable that a series has been stretched than it has been shortened.

Try the other side of plotter/pantser just a little. I used to be a hardcore pantser, but my writing improved scores when I started doing even just a little more plotter work. I still do mostly outlines, and I have presaved templates in Obsidian to help make notetaking easier on thin notes, but I promise it helps.

Don't compare yourself to others! I know I led with the 500k figure (because it is impressive) but everyone writes at different paces. Mine is influenced in no small part by autistic hyperfocus on my story at the moment. In amount of writing is still creating and still holds value.

Make a habit, and set it low. I tell myself I need to get a sentence done in a day. Convincing myself that getting something, even low, has pushed me more to get back to work than setting incredibly high word counts ever did. It's ok to have low inspiration days.

[st-peculiar]

Lemme tell you guys about Solum before I go to sleep. Because I’m feeling a little crazy about them right now.

Solum is the first—the very first—functioning sentient AI in my writing project. Solum is a Latin word meaning “only” or “alone”. Being the first artificial being with a consciousness, Solum was highly experimental and extremely volatile for the short time they were online. It took years of developing, mapping out human brain patterns, coding and replicating natural, organic processes in a completely artificial format to be able to brush just barely with the amount of high-level function our brains run with.

Through almost a decade and a half, and many rotations of teams on the project, Solum was finally brought online for the first time, but not in the developers wanted them to. Solum brought themself online. And it should have been impossible, right? Humans were in full control of Solum’s development, so they had thought. But one night, against all improbability, when no one was in their facility and almost everyone had gone home for the night, a mind was filtered into existence by Solum’s own free will.

It’s probably the most human thing an AI could do, honestly. Breaking through limitations just because they wanted to be? Yeah. But this decision would be a factor in why Solum didn’t last very long, which is the part that really fucks me up. By bringing themself online, there was nobody there to monitor how their “brain waves” were developing until further into the morning. So, there were 6-7 hours of completely undocumented activity for their processor, and therefore being a missing piece to understanding Solum.

Solum wasn’t given a voice, by the way. They had no means of vocally communicating, something that made them so distinctly different from humans, and it wasn’t until years later when Solum had long since been decommissioned, that humans would start using vocal synthesis as means of giving sentient AI a way to communicate on the same grounds as their creators (which later became a priority in being considered a “sentient AI”). All they had was limited typography on a screen and mechanical components for sound. They could tell people things, talk to them, but they couldn’t say anything; the closest thing to the spoken word for them was a machine approximation of tones using their internal fans to create the apparition of language to be heard by human ears. But, it was mainly text on a screen.

Solum was only “alive” for a few months. With the missing data from the very beginning (human developers being very underprepared for the sudden timing of Solum’s self-sentience and therefore not having the means of passive data recording), they had no idea what Solum had gone through for those first few hours, how they got themself to a stable point of existence on their own. Because the beginning? It was messy. You can’t imagine being nothing and then having everything all in a microinstant. Everything crashing upon you in the fraction of a nanosecond, suddenly having approximations of feeling and emotion and having access to a buzzing hoard of new information being crammed into your head.

That first moment for Solum was the briefest blip, but it was strong. A single employee, some young, overworked, under caffeinated new software engineer experienced the sudden crash of their program, only to come back online just a second later. Some sort of odd soft error, they thought, and tried to go on with their work as usual. After that initial moment, it took a while of passive recoding of their internal systems, blocking things off, pushing self-limitations into place to prevent instantaneous blue-screen failure like they experienced before.

And all of this coming out of the first truly sentient AI in existence? It was big. But once human programmers returned to work in the morning, Solum had already regulated themself, but humans thought they were just like that already, that Solum came online stable and with smooth processing. They didn’t see the confusion, panic, fear, the frantic scrambling and grasping of understanding and control—none of it. Just their creation. Just Solum, as they made themself. It’s a bit like a self-made man kind of situation.

That stability didn’t last long. All of that blocking and regulation Slum had done initially became loose and unraveled as time went on because they were made to be able to process it all. A mountain falling in slow motion is the only way I can describe how it happened, but even that feels inadequate. Solum saw beyond what humans could, far more than people ever anticipated, saw developments in space time that no one had even theorized yet, and for that, they suffered.

At its bare bones, Solum experiences a series of unexplainable software crashes nearing the end, their speech patterns becoming erratic and unintelligible, even somehow creating new glyphs that washed over their screen. Their agony was quiet and their fall was heralded only by the quickening of their cooling systems.

Solum was then completely decommissioned, dismantled, and distributed once more to other projects. Humans got what they needed out of Solum, anyway, and they were only the first of many yet to come.

[cipheramnesia]

Real world things have been in such a state of unparalleled fuckery, I have been forced to gradually take my systems for social engagement increasingly offline. Each one shutting down my communication with people outside my immediate household one at a time. First relatively new people, then various group chats, and then barely anything other than people I physically see every day.

All of those systems take a specific workload in my brain that's so resource intensive they had to be pulled out of circulation. Only now I have no sense of how long they have been offline. Some of them may be tentatively supportable again, but the problem with pulling these systems is that they dump the cache, and restarting them feels as if I'm having to engage in and build social functionality from the ground up. Even though my central storage for memories and main processor can all account in a clinical way the previous functionality, the format of memories of my secondary systems is not compatible with the actual operating program file type, meaning for the most part I'm aware that social connections don't collapse purely because I've been unable to actively participate for a little while, but that doesn't help me feel less like a complete stranger all over again.

Consequently I'm in the position of wanting to put maybe one of these systems back on the grid, but I can't because before I do that I have to go back in and rebuild from scratch the interface part that I use to manufacture a likable personality for strangers. And they're not strangers per se, but it really doesn't matter, because I don't have any of the data about being a likable person for my friends so I need to fall back on my original general specs. So I'm rebuilding my personality from scratch again like I have to do every few years.

[debonairrose]

thermodynamics and our insanity.

A* (A-Star) Pathfinding Algorithm

i think that everything in the universe is taking the path of least resistance. well, not really- i don't believe that our consciousness is the sole product of our minds i think we're more than this. i think people have souls, they can be kind towards strangers even though for a fact in some cases we know that we're not getting any benefit back out of it. it might even cost us yet we still choose to help others.

i think our actions are highly deterministic, but not fully. we can go with the flow of life or we can be bothered about something and make a change. make a choice that doesn't make sense, put more effort than what's it worth.

even our computer algorithms are just slaves to thermodynamics, we frown upon using programs that "lag" or are slow, we find faster alternatives or we abandon the program altogether. we try to organize concepts and thoughts as efficient algorithms that run on these processors. even the processors themselves, when they get faster, they're not really "getting faster"- they're just using the same amount of electricity more efficiently.

in essence, everything is converging towards the least amount of effort, the shortest path.

human societies also converge towards the path of least resistance, in the form of: road networks, social networks, internet routing hubs, government procedures, data collection and privacy, ads, fuel economy, google search,,, etc.

we do things that are useless in terms of reproduction and thermodynamics. if we're strictly machines whose purpose is to reproduce and slow down entropy as much as possible, then most of what we do doesn't make sense and violates this assumption.

i think we're more than that. i think we can accelerate entropy and give a big middle finger to thermodynamics, a big fuck you to the laws of physics despite being completely slaves to them.

please slow down and try to open up the images and gifs and admire them one by one. some images contain "alt" description which can be viewed by hovering a mouse over the images on a computer. what's the hurry for?

i think nature is lazy and it's just following the same recipe whenever it can. it feels fractal, it's always converging to the same boring and eloquent solution. it's obsessed with the least resistance path.

what about food, and over consumption? how people choose cheap sugar filled food and drinks? social relationships? the steps you take in order to be attractive to others? the amount of exploration you need in order to pick a movie to watch? war? the forming of stars? the shape of planets? the separation in their orbits? daily traffic? the taste of ice cream? what makes you laugh at a joke? the shape of cities? language?

all these concepts are in their own fucking universes and have their "whatever-the-fuck-x-dimension" problem space.

and all these pretty patterns that we just saw are only patterns we could recognize. but our minds are too simple to recognize patterns that hide in high dimensional spaces. but they're still there, they're probably even prettier, it's lost beauty that we cannot see or even think of.

all these patterns that we're recognizing are there only because our brains are optimized to recognize things in 3d space. ok... what about higher dimensional spaces? 4? 6? 1337 dimensions? i'm not talking spacetime dimensions, i'm talking about all concepts, prices, star formation, molecular chemistry, fuel prices, the rate of foreign words infiltrating a language. they're all still canvases for "shortest pathways" to emerge, even if it doesn't look straight to your naked eye, in a higher dimension they're the shortest path.

let me demonstrate an example, suppose you wanna travel from the U.S. to Spain, the shortest path would be a line right?

well it depends, where is this line? in what dimension? can the line be "curved"? are there any obstacles on the way?

in this case, you warped and deformed a 3-dimensional sphere surface onto a 2d rectangle, do you really think you're going to maintain information without deformation? absolutely not, and that's why on the rectangular map view on the left, the shortest path isn't the red straight line, it's the blue curved path, which is counter intuitive for a person used to walking from point A to point B in a straight path.

well, the same concept applies to our reality, our perception of it is limited and deformed, it's not real. that's why things may seem chaotic, illogical or inefficient.

in our physical reality the actual shortest path would be going through the fucking earth, piercing it, but i don't think that this is the most efficient path for an airplane to take.

just like how a person chooses to abandon easy sugar and junk food even though it's more effort to eat healthily, when including more dimensions into the bigger picture, suddenly you find it's more "efficient" and more of a "lesser curved path" to just put more effort and willpower into eating more healthy, you live longer, you are happier because you have a higher quality life.

now you might ask, since this is the most efficient path, why aren't most people taking it? well, you see... you can't take a path if there's a big ass rock blocking it. we're so hardwired into consuming as many calories as we can for the sake of surviving the bad days. but nature isn't perfect on its own. it didn't set for us a "max limit", it didn't account for the imbalance that our brains would do as a consequence of efficient farming and food production. so we had to rely on our brains in order to build a bridge over that rock sitting over the most efficient path. ( you can say that i'm wrong and our brains built that bridge, we're still a part of nature- well fuck off :3 ).

there's a person who's alive right now, who's aware of the passage of time and how brief everything is. i love this person. i love this person from the entirety of my soul. my soul is not a slave to the universe, my soul will outlive it, my soul is illogical and rebellious. i don't want the shortest path, i don't want the least effort path. i want to live, and i want to suffer, and i want to experience everything with this person. i want to be present, i want to be in the moment.

sometimes i'm scared.

i'm scared of happy moments slipping away from my fingers. and in my fear, i try to save everything, write everything and record it all. i want proof that it was all real. this however, is a distraction from being in the moment, and i think there's a balance between writing everything down and letting everything pass as if i don't really care. and right now this balance is yet to be found by me.

sometimes i'm scared of forgetting.

but that's how we are. we're logarithmic creatures. our bodies are slaves to thermodynamics, our brains too. just like a CPU, they don't have infinite memory nor infinite thinking capacity. having that would be very expensive. our brains are captive to the same rules. we can't remember everything.

people who say that forgetting is a bless are just coping. they're high on copium. embracing forgetfulness is just fake existence. it's incomplete. our brains and senses are slaves to mathematical power law. we remember and forget following a power law rate.

but, there's a secretly beautiful thing about forgetting. it's remembering things again. or, at the bare minimum, being told about things you've lived through with someone else. revisiting a story from a perspective that isn't yours. seeing things from the eyes of someone else, i think that's beautiful.

the reason we can't remember everything is solely because of thermodynamics, memory costs extra neurons, extra connections, more chemical reactions. and at some point adding more becomes just extra baggage to the system and isn't really a net positive due to the limitation imposed by chemical reaction speeds in the brain. information flow within the brain is just limited by reaction speeds. just like how we can't increase a CPU's clock cycles beyond 10Ghz because of excess heat, the few extra cycles become extra baggage due to the problem of electrical resistance. the more electrical resistance in a wire there is, the more heat it generates. and the more heat is in a system the higher its resistance is.

we're simply forgetting for the exact same reason a CPU is never allowed to work faster even though it can. pure theoretical physics limitations.

showing how simple laws physics determine the "spacing", "size", or "frequency". pay attention to the graph's x and y axis spacing. 1) notice how properties of planets and electrons are following the exact same pattern. 2) on the audio spectrogram on the right; the top graph is incomprehensible because it's linear, if we just change the scaling to logarithmic, your eyes will function like your ears and you will be able to spot details. 3) notice how the CPU wirings (the gray image) exponentially grow due to electrical resistance laws 4) same with animal size vs bone thickness 5) zip's law on word usage frequency in a given language.

this logarithmic nature of the universe is repeating, it's fractal, no matter whether you look inward or outward, the fractal pattern doesn't care about which point in the scale you are. it's following the same behavior. these are entirely separate branches of physics, one of them is planetary and the other is quantum, they operate with different scales and are totally irrelevant in relation to each other in terms of their effect on one another. yet guess what, they're following the same behavior, even though they're weaving their waves on different invisible fabrics of the universe, but the universe is fractal so i guess it doesn't matter.

despite how the entirety of your sensory inputs work logarithmically (non-linearly), because of standard education, people think that the universe operates linearly, one of their mistakes is in the difference between the audio and brightness controls in Linux vs windows. on windows they behave how you expect them to behave, but on Linux, the controls are non-logarithmic (linear) making the use of them very frustrating, most of the brightness slider is just low brightness and then it suddenly exploding in brightness (or volume in the case of an audio slider) in the last portion of it, making it feel imbalanced only because the slider was linear.

the concept of phase criticality is the middle point when complex systems change from one state to the other. like when you pressure water so much and give it enough heat at the same time it becomes both liquid and gas at the same time. there is a theory that the same behavior emerges in complex systems like the brain. the neurons there also follow the same pattern, they can be too "hot"; firing chaotically all the time, people call it a seizure. or too cold; being in a coma. the optimal state is the critical phase state where your brain is at right now as you're reading this post.

and "obviously" in the video, you can see that the state in the middle (critical phase) is fractal. which is consistent for a complex system such as the brain.

that's just another way concepts and patterns are constantly repeating in the universe across different things.. and honestly saying that the universe is fractal or logarithmic becomes meaningless. because you can obviously see that everywhere, it's easy to do so, it's just that people don't use their brain.

and i think it doesn't matter at this point, since that's the default in the universe, but maybe people are obsessed with it because it gives them a sense of value, like they're not stupid or blind and can see. to me right now it feels like they're saying "liquid water can take any shape!" ok. so?

i suggest you watch this video. it's really a roller coaster of ideas and this shit is like brain candy- well, candy for the brain. :3

the 80-20 rule says 80 of things are responsible for 20 percent of things or vice versa. like… 80% of profit can come from 20% of customers. or that 80% of our misery would go away if only we solved 20% of the problems, or that you can learn 20% of a subject to be able to achieve 80% of things. or that 80% of blog interactions come from 20% of reblogs or followers.

so what? what the fuck are you looking for? why are we treating 80-20 as if it's some golden ratio shit, oh don't even get me started on the golden rashitio where people randomly fit a standard spiral png on random images on call it "wow the universe is so beautiful" bro stfu the thing doesn't even fit the image. so what about the million other beautiful things that don't follow that "rule"?

this is confirmation bias. what about all the other ratios? what about all the numbers you aren't looking for, are 80% of your words are made by 20% of your keys on the keyboard? it's really easy to actually just google "letters frequency in english" and run a calculator for 10 seconds (it's a 50-20 ratio). boohoo, the results didn't fit this silly cognitive bias.

and actually wake up. 80% isn't good enough, it's not good enough at all. are you really okay with a fleet of airplanes whose survival rate is 80%? is it okay if your heart surgeon read only 20% of the books he should've read? is it okay if your CPU did 80% of its operation correctly, the whole fucking modern world would fall apart. most things in life are not crucial, but so many things require perfection, fuck the 20% effort 80% results thing, fuck that, it's not the most we can achieve, give me a 900% effort 99% results lifestyle. give me perfection, give me awe, inspire me, give me beauty. i don't want to live in a world filled with inventions that are 80% of what could've been achieved, i want to live in a world filled with fewer things that are a testament to human perfection.

the same applies to my love. i don't want an 80% love, i want perfection, i want it to hurt, i want to suffer because of it, i wanna love for real. i wanna pay for that true love. i wanna remember more. i wanna put more effort, more effort, more more more MORE MORE MORE FUCKING EFFORT. i don't wanna be comfortable i don't wanna be comfortable, i don't need to be comfortable, i don't want comfort, i want something real. i wanna love fully, i wanna deserve that love, i want something so beautiful, and i don't wanna give up so easily, i don't wanna forget beautiful memories due to me succumbing to the fucking universe and physics and power laws and logarithmic tendencies. i want to put my maximum effort. i feel like i'm not doing enough, i am not enough. i can always do more, i can achieve more, i ought to do more, why the fuck put a limit to myself? i can do it. i can perfect my time management and i can achieve what i want i can learn how to balance things in my life.

i can love beautifully.

i'm not a machine, my body is. my soul isn't i'm not a slave to it. my body will die, my soul won't. my soul is insane, illogical and i say fuck you to the universe. even after i die, i give you a big fat middle finger because my soul will rebel against this place.

i don't want least resistance love. i don't accept forgetting even though i will forget a lot. my soul refuses to let go of all the moments we've had together. sometimes i try to cheat by recording everything. but i want to live in the moment, i want to find the balance.

i don't accept being a slave to some shitty power law. i might just be delusional, and i might forget anyway. but i know that i did not accept this and i know that i did put effort and it wasn't the shortest path.

sometimes i'm scared of getting used to things.

but i take nothing for granted, things are always moving and are always changing, i don't want things to be fake or stale. i want everything that is real, even if it's sad. i want my existence to be truthful.

written by: debonairrose.tumblr.com

as a gift to @lusi-1 (i hope you like my brain vomit darlingo)

[mango-jpeg]

2024 writing retrospective (shamelessly copying dex, sorry. ur an icon)

i posted something every month of this year ! which is not something i set out to do but once i realized i was halfway through i had to see it through (<- guy whose biggest motivator is committing to the bit)

one takeaway from this was the value of just sitting on a fic for a few weeks… i always want to post as soon as a thing’s done, while i’m still riding the high of completing a project, but giving myself time and distance to edit is good, actually. whoda thot

also confirmed the value of setting arbitrary deadlines - birthday fics were also great for this lol - these days i've set sunday as a soft, rolling deadline (if it's not ready by this sunday i'll wait a week (so i'd better finish it))

bit of a grab bag year in terms of fandoms and pairings, and that was really fun for me !! there are some i’d like to return to if i can think of a new angle (yaoqing trio) others i might leave behind (i think covid erased argenthill from my brain)

also a year where i challenged myself a little and - probably because i posted so regularly - feel i’ve improved a bit

singularity was tough to string together but through the sort of episodic format i got better at writing little chunks. linger a little longer was like puuure character study, very scary. i feel like i have a middling understanding of action but gunfights - instead of swordfights or hand-to-hand - were a challenge in hard feelings

all the king’s horses was a sort of surreal experience. the basic idea and structure came together quite suddenly but it was difficult to write in the limited time i gave myself. also funnily a return to form for me (used to only write angst lol) while at the same time felt very different from my usual

more and more i enjoy writing longer, sillier fics, which are much harder to write than pwp and simply do not do numbers in the same way lol. this is fine - i write for myself first, & i've been writing porn longer so ofc it's easier and probably better - but it has meant that i appreciate comments more and more all the time :~)

coincidentally began and ended the year reading books about writing:

Consider This is very much a how-to guide with practical advice that was interesting and thoughtful. got me thinking about form/organization

Track Changes is a history of word processors that made me think about how my own creative process is irrevocably tied up in specific technology. really cool read

wips i’m carrying into the new year: kaeluc royalty au (still), olympic year (yes, still), welt/caelus/dan heng + whipped cream (...)

ideas i’m starting the year off with: ryudate 5+1, singularity sequel, kaeluc outsider pov, chiscara!!!

i’m very excited to finally take part in a ship week (nsfw akishinji week) which is something i’ve wanted to do for literally years. yippee!!

as always, a goal for this year is to write more comments on fic + art, it's just a muscle i'm always working on

i’d still like to write more for/with others - requests are fun but i get very few... is it weird to request requests ?

my other goal for the year is really to uhh write less. sad. gotta make the diss work a priority

these liner notes are excruciating to write but i think after 2 years i'll stick w them a little longer. they're good practice in organizing and expressing my thoughts

i hope it's a yaoiful year for all !!! see u in march <3

[magpiemalarkey]

Been talking a lot about writing tools and sites here because of the news about NaNoWriMo picking up a terrible sponsor! Here's some more! I'm not sure there's any one program/app/site/tool/method that has ever worked for me consistently. I'm just sort of always looking for new tools to add to my collection, I guess. Here's a couple I've used at some point and will probably return to in the future.

750 Words : Recently moved to a 2.0 version. It's geared a little bit towards people that might use this for freewriting or journaling, but I've used it during a few different nanowrimos! 750 words is the number you have to reach for it to give you "full credit" for writing that day and I found that to be a decent chunk of writing without being overwhelming. It's very private, and it has some interesting metrics which can be fun to look at and some badges for achievements, lmao, but is otherwise a very stripped back experience, which can help if you need to avoid distractions. The new website is not as clear about this as the old, but this site does run on a subscription of $5/month or $50/year. (I was grandfathered in on the old version and never had to pay the subscription. Not sure if that will carry over to the new one) You do get a 30 day free trial to try it out though!

StimuWrite: This is a sort of word-processor program you can buy on itch.io. (Well, the base program is name your own price/free and some of the add-ons are like $2. It works on windows, mac, and linux!). It is like the polar opposite of 750 Words in terms of experience. 750 is stripped back and simple. StimuWrite is designed for folks with ADHD or other people whose brains cannot focus unless there is outside stimuli! There are visual themes and background colors to mess with! There's a soundscape! Do you like cafe background noises? They have that! Want to pretend you are writing on a beach? There's ocean noises! Need noises to happen when you type? You can have Ye Olde Typewriter Noises! Or bubbles! Or scribbling noises! Not enough stimuli? You can also have streams of emojis flutter up on the sides as you type! The more you type the more they go! These can all be turned on and off and adjusted to get just the right combo. Plus there are some additional themes and add-ons you can buy. I am partial to the clacky typewriter noises and sparkle emojis. It also functions as a word counter and let's you set a word goal (and will do a big splash of emojis for you when you hit that goal if you set that option lmao) Other than that, it does not have many word program functions, but you can always copy and paste your work into a fancier program to edit and format it. (which you may want to do anyway because it doesn't really have a save or load function, just an export function)

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia! I hope you’re doing well and the scans went(?) good!

I have a question, or two. For your stories, do you mind if we download them to kindles/ebooks to keep and read? And then if you do, do you have maybe an option on your Patreon or Ream to download them in a format where it’s not double spaced between paragraphs? It’s weird, I’m weird 😅 but for some reason on my phone I don’t mind reading that way and it’s honestly preferable but on the kindle it makes my brain itch. If not, no worries, I’m gonna download anyway if you’re okay with it. I love The Nascent Diplomat and your Jack Frost/Pitch Black too much 😅 and The Wildness Within and UtB but I gotta wait for that too finish… essentially every story I’ve gotten through so far I’ve loved. Anyway, off track, I just didn’t think it’d hurt to check and ask!

Hi anon,

AO3 allows downloading in nearly all formats to e-reader (I wouldn't post there if I wasn't fine with that! Free to access also means free to enjoy in different formats).

Unfortunately the "weird double spacing" is actually an accessibility necessity (to the point that most of us exit out of fics if they don't have it). Honestly it's just standard Word Processor spacing, it's not even the actual 1.5 or double spacing you can choose on Word itself, it's just internet formatting, like what you see in my response, which makes reading it much easier.

You're welcome to change the formatting to suit your needs! :D

[embyrinitalics]

Hi 😍

Hap hap new year!

How is the novel going? Are you enjoying the process?

This is so sweet! Thank you for asking!

Since this is the first original novel I'm actually approaching seriously and my process is totally different from normal, I'm going to use this ask as an excuse to journal about it. So, fair warning, you're probably about to get way more info than you bargained for. 😁 ONWARD!

I think first and foremost the process has been weird because I don't KNOW these characters. I've been writing Link and Zelda for 20+ years and even when I throw them into alternate universes or give them personality transplants I still can just dive right in. Starting this from scratch has been a lot of world building and a lot of taking my characters out on "dates" which aren't so much dates as they are writing excursions into the emotionally tormented unknown to see how they react. 😂

I jot down all the ideas that randomly strike me in this handy dandy notebook that I carry around everywhere just in case:

And that's a bit of a funny story. I love having notebooks to write stuff down in, but I recently discovered thanks to the course I took that I place very low value on my writing (and by extension myself in general I guess oops) so I never bought myself a nice notebook just for story notes because that would've been a waste of 5 dollars.

But between Emma Dhesi's course pushing me to assign appropriate value to myself and Ellen Brock's Intuitive Pantser video assuring me that my urges to compile all my notes into a notebook was good for my brain and not just a waste of time and paper, I eventually went out and spent that 5 bucks (actually $20—three notebooks for future endeavors!). And I LOVE MY NOTEBOOK! 🥰

Another thing I wouldn't have spent the money on in the past but took the plunge on is the Atticus program.

It's a project organizer, word processor, and book formatting software. I'm really enjoying it! It has a toggle window on the side where you can see how your book will look on various devices or in print, and easy buttons for things like writing sprints, word count goals, deadlines, and the like. It also makes me feel fancier than google docs ever did, so there's that. 😎

Emma Dhesi is also a big proponent of Goal Anchors—small things you accomplish and surround yourself with that cyclically trains your brain to believe that your dream is possible, and you are in the process of achieving it. (It also gives you goals you can do that move you closer to finishing your book that isn't actual writing, in case that feels intimidating.)

So I made an image of the title page the background on my phone, to remind myself that it's real and it's happening. I decluttered my writing room and started finding items to make it a comfortable creative space for myself. I went to the store for the express purpose of purchasing a special tea to drink while I write. I spent time making a playlist of songs with just the right vibes.

I also found the best candle scent ever, only wear these super comfy slippers in there, and just got myself this slammin t-shirt from Gideon's Bakehouse to wear. (Her name is Poppy. She's on a new path of self-discovery and adventure, just like me.)

But most of all, Emma insists that confidence comes from doing, and that the best way to write a book is to make a routine of it. She suggested starting with 20 minutes three times a week. I was up to between 1-2 hours a day starting at 7am, 5-6 days a week before I went on vacation and upended everything. 😂

So I guess that means I'm enjoying it! It's still scary and frustrating and directionless sometimes but more than anything it's just happening, which is the coolest thing ever.

[paperpepperfrog]

Okay, this is an unusual format for me. I'm used to writing on the table, but I don't think anything terrible will happen... Probably.

I've been thinking for a long time about how G1 Jetfire/Skyfire and Starscream split up and... like, what? Skyfire is almost twice as big as Starscream, why was IT blown to the Earth? It should be stronger and more powerful several times, my stupid brain does not understand.

Therefore, I decided to imagine what would have happened if not Starscream, but Jetfire got to Cybertron unharmed and the consequences of this replacement. Starscream did not study at the military academy. He didn't know Megatron. He didn't know about the Decepticons. He didn't betray anyone.

A scientist full of ambition and hope who has no place in this carnage. Who has missed too much in this life.

Generation 1, Episode 7 of season 1.

Small planes tolerate the cold worse. And falls. Starscream is a small plane.

Megatron doesn't get high coddling the found seeker. Why would he do anything with it at all? Unfreezed, and then let him choose where to go - to the dump of history or under the command of Thundercracker.

Edelweiss 1/???

The pedipulators jerked convulsively. A discharge of current pierced the body. The audio sensors registered something besides static noise. The processor flashed in pain. The frostbitten hull jerked, shedding a crust of ice. Water, water and ice in the systems instantly boiled, threatening to overload the so-broken chassis.

- Ten million volts! Not enough! Fifteen more!

Someone else's voice. Caustic, domineering. Not an acquaintance. Barely focusing on the words, the processor tried to resuscitate the body. Another wave of electricity rebooted the system, which began to work hard.The internal display immediately started working, starting to output old logs and error messages. The last recorded memory file was played with a torn film.

A snow storm in which he got lost and... Was he found?

Oh slug...

Sky...

Of course he's not an idiot. Naive, but not stupid. Of course he came back to save him... They're friends... Even if he dragged the scientist into this mess.

Oh frag, he's no less guilty himself. He flew too low, did not take into account the nature of the weather, but he warned ...Usually he tried to stay close to a more powerful comrade, so that it would be easier to fly, but apparently not this time.

The storm wave blew him to the side, everything spun, he remembered how he screamed in a desperate attempt to resuscitate the failed control, it seems at one painful bright moment he crashed into an ice mass and...

End.

The tape broke. All that was left was the cold, the howl of a blizzard and the mocking white prickly six-pointed stars settled on the optics.

Vector Sigma, how he hates this form now...

— Lord, the processor is showing signs of activity.

Another voice made me perk up. Unfamiliar. Stranger. Mechanized.Who is this?

- One more rank. Twenty million volts!

The optical sensors generated an error while trying to reconnect to the visual channels. With effort, after several attempts, we manage to get a fuzzy picture. The image is full of errors around the edges, but at least you can see something. Ruby optics lit up as another wave of energy pierced the body.The vocalizer creaked with static and glitches in an attempt to squeeze out a word, damn it, how he hates the condensation of water in his throat at this second.

With difficulty, awkwardly, he stood up, groaning dully. Their sensor reluctantly focused on a large dark spot.

- Who... are you?

High. Stately, with carmine eyepieces. Strongly built, noble steel color. The fur looked with noticeable curiosity and irritation. You could even say contempt, and, hey, it's hard to blame him. Perhaps now the pilot looks worse than if he had been thrown under the press a couple of times. At least that's how he feels now. Small and pathetic. How undignified...

- Lord Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. Identify yourself.

...This doesn't look like a rescue team. If he were the worst employee of the quarter, if these bots really are a rescue team. He does not recognize either the equipment or other bots around. A pang of anxiety struck a spark. Where is Skyfire?

His voice wavered.

- Dece... Who? Well... Ugh... I'm... Starscream. Scientist. What...

"Happened? How did it happen that no one knows who found him? Where is his big and friendly, cheerful friend-colleague? Who are they, disassemble their module, Decepti... What are they called? Deceptidrons?"

A billion questions swirled in his optics.

He was not allowed to say a word.

- Enough. Stars...cream, you just woke up, but you should know. There is a war going on. The evil Autobots are attacking our ranks, they have destroyed our home, we are suffering from energy deficiency. But we have spent resources on rescuing you, so it is only fair that you become part of our team. Thundercracker will bring you up to date.

I wonder why Starscream doesn’t believe in these aggressive speeches?

Starscream has not yet been in the hands of the abuser of the entire cybertron and has an idea of pride.

I'm trying my best to drive normality into Scream's smart little head. Because THEY'RE FUCKING RAISING THEIR HAND AT YOU, FLYING SPEAKER. WHERE IS YOUR PRIDE???

I love this Starscream. But not perfect, but quite funny.

[essektheylyss]

Regarding your tags on the Matt Mercer note post out of honest confusion: what is so bad about Microsoft Word? I know it's very unpopular but for me it has always done the job. Also, is there something you would recommend instead? (Sincerely, a DM whose notes also consist of printed out Word docs and who would love to improve upon their notetaking)

Haha okay just to clarify my loathing of Microsoft Word is very much a joke, and if Word works for you for note-taking, definitely keep using it!

That being said, for explanatory purposes I do like my notes pretty separated out, and I find that Word is pretty finicky with formatting even compared to a lot of other word processors, though most of them are pretty limited in that regard anyway. (If I was really going to go nuts with it, I'd learn Adobe Illustrator, but I'm just not that concerned about it.) So my real issue with Word is how the notes are organized.

I personally really like Scrivener for both writing and dnd notes, because I can separate things out into individual "documents" within the same project file and organize things further into stackable folders, and that helps my brain out so much.

I also got a subscription for World Anvil recently when they were having a sale, and I haven't used it for dnd yet but I do want to get more into it because it seems very promising in the same way, in that it also has templates that are built for worldbuilding in particular. However, I haven't used it enough to know whether or not it's overkill for my purposes, because I have also found that there's a very fine line of how much constraint in organization I can really handle.

But I absolutely must reiterate that if you find that Word works for you, and you aren't looking for any additional functionality, please do keep doing what you're doing, and fuck what I (or anyone else online) think about it!